Hopper



Aug. 26, 1930. w F GRUPE 4 1,774,478

' HOPPER Filed April 17. 1922 7 Sheets-Shed', 2

Aug. 26, 1930. Wl F, GRU'PE 1,774,478

HOPPER Filed April 17. 1922 v '7 Sheets-Shed 5 j 7&5-

Aug. 26, 1930. w. F. GRUPE HOPPER Filed April 17, 1922 7 sheets-Shen 4 Aug. 26, 1930.

w. F. GRUPE HOPPER Filed April 1'7. 1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 26, 1930. w. F. GRUPE HOPPER Filed April 17. 1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet W. FV GRUPE Aug, 26, 1930.v

HOPPER Filed April 1'7, 1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 BYW `'fgvTORf/ WTT NEX/(M Patented ug. 26, 1930 unirse earner rines WILLIAM F. GRUPE, GE' HUDSGN HELEGEITS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB- TO llNDLESS BELT CORPORATION, OF NEXV YGRK, N. Y., A CORPORATGN F NEVI YORK HOFPER Application filed April 17,

This invention relates to automaticallyl Operated elevators or hoppers for cigarette making and kindred machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a 5 construction and arrangement of elevating mechanism whereby the amount of tobacco delivered by the hopper tothe cigarette making'in'achine proper is uniform notwithstanding variations of the character and condition of the tobacco charged into the hopper.

A further feature of the invention is to provide an improved form of vhopper and its k mechanism whereby the delivery from the hopper to the cigarette forming mechanism is subject to adjustment under the control of the operator, while continuing thev roperation of the machine.

l/Vith the aforesaid objects in view, a preferred form of `my invention comprises a hopper of suitable internal construction and carding rolls driven from the main shaft of the cigarette machine proper by a mechanism wherein eachV driving element is'positively actuated, and the actuation from the main shaft of the cigarette machine to the carding rolls, and preferably,'also any appurtenant devices, is throughout positivelyy transmitted from stage to stage of actualOIl.

The more preferred forms of the invention comprise suitable means for automatically 4charging the hopper with tobacco'to a determined height relative to the respective sets of carding rolls and for maintaining` the charge of such height during the operation of the lhopper mechanism and the cigarette making machine generally, and also positively interconnected means for positively driving the charging means and for positively operating the hopper mechanism in time relation with the c: rette niachine proper and particularly c rod-forining mechanism.

Further features of the invention reside in improved driving means connecting the main shaft of the cigarette machine with therespective rolls of the hopper mechanism for attaining at the will of the operator dif- 50 ferent speeds of yactuation of the rolls rela- 1922. Serial No. 554,230.

tively to the speed of the main shaft of the cigarette making machine and particularly relative to the speed of 'actuation of the rod-forming mechanism. y

Further features and objects of the in vention will be more fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is an end elevation of a cigarette making machine provided with a hopper and carding mechanism embodying my invention, the hopper being broken awa f on the line l-l of Fig. 2 to show certain driving parts of the carding mechanism;

Fig. la is a detail and elevation on lino lil-1 of Fig. Q, showing the two inner trains of gearing elements for carding mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hopper and its actuating mechanism, shown in Fig. l, and brolren away on line 2-2 of Fig.l l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line of Fig. 2, and showing also a preferred form of device arranged ithin the hopper for preventing the matting together of the tobacco into balls or the like; and breaking down bridges causing air holes;

Fig. d is a sectional elevation on line -fl of Fig. l;

v i1 Fig. o is a detail perspective view or ine step element of each push rod for controli ling the clutches of the variable cai-ding roll drive;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly br-'lrel away, showing a modified form of gearini arrangement and carding operation and als a modified form of nistrihutor within th hopper;

.Fig 7 is a central vertical sectional view of the construction shown in 5 with the modiiication of the use of two distributors in lieu of one in Fig. C.

Fn". 8 is a side'elevation of a cigarette ig machine einbodvnig my invention oiesaid, showing particularly the autof means for charging the hopper; A g. 8 is detail side elevation on an enlarged scale the delivery end of the conveyor and cleaning mechanism tliereat, indicated in Fig. 8; A

Fig. S) is a detail end elevation on (D Off? gli lil

il l1 enlarged scale ot the conveyor shown in Ifig. 8 and showing also additional elements ot the control and actuating mechanism ol the automatic charging conveyor;

Ilig. 10 is a` de'ail perspective view of the control device or" the automatic charging conveyor Fig. l1 is a detail top plan view of a portion oit the controls means oi'l starting and stopping the automatic charging means;

Fig. is a detail side elevation oit a hopper, partly brolen away, provided with a modilied form ot carding mechanism g Fig. 13 is a detail sido elevation of a hopper, partly broken ai'vay, and provided with a i'urther modified 'term ot carding mechanism; and

Fig. l-l is a diagrammatic side elevation showing my hopper assembled with the usual paper feed and rod-'torining devices.

As an exaniple of one preferred form ci my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, embodiments as applied to a commonly employed type o'lE cigarette making machine.

e'ferring to Figs. 1 and 2, the bed of the cigarette machine is indicated at 1 having the usual feet 2. rIhe drive shalt or" ,the cigarette machine is shown at il. The top plate ol the cigarette machine is shown at fl, on which is located the cam drive the cut-oil' mechanism, the brackets for supporting the rod-forming mechanism and other usual operating parts, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The hopper embodying my invention is indicated generally at 5 and is preferably equipped with the contracting discharge C, culminating in the re '.tilinear, narrow slot 7 cominunicating directly with the chute S directly above the cigare te paper ied in the usual manner from a suitable reel through and at the bottom oi the chino S to the rod- 'iorniing mechanism proper of the cigarette making machine.

To the drive shaft 3, driven say in the direction o'l the indicating arrow, is iixed the sprocl-:et gear 10, 1 and nected positively by the chain l1 wir-n the sprocket gear 12, iixedly mounted on the shaft 13, which serves as the main drive shaft oi the hopper mechanism. Ey selecting the proper sizes oi? the sprocket gears l() and 12, the operator regulates grossly the delivery ot' carded tobacco required. for any particular size of cigarette. Variations in the delivery of carded tobacco due to variations in the particular condition, grade or character ot the tobacco are overcome by my carding mechanism and appurtenant devices, as is set forth more fully hereinafter.

I provide a plurality ot carding rolls arranged in upwardly extending sots, one

set as viewed in Fig. 3 extei'iding to the right and another set extending to the left, the earding rolls as an entirety forming the bottom and two sides ol the hopper, and variable speed drive for the respective carding rolls comprising two trains of gearing, referred to generally as an outer train and an inner train, for each of the iight-laurel and left-hand sets oil carding rolls and aclutch for coupling the indiif'idual ca 'ding rolls either with the inner train or with the outer train of gearing.

To provide for such arrangement, the shaft, 13, is mounted in tao spaced bearings 1l, lll, and to the shai't lil is secured the bevel gear 15 meshing with the level gear 16, see -Figs. 1 and 2,. The bevel gear 1G is secured to the shalt 1T extending through the bearing 1S from the exterior oi the hopper 5 through the compartment 19 olE the hopper in which are located the gearing and clutches for variable drive ol the cai-ding rolls and appurtenant elements, as will be particularly pointed out hereinafter. Th;x spur gear Qi) is suitably connected to 'the shalt 17 by a set screw 2l or the like. rllhc sha'lft 19 extends through the outer wall 19 oi? the compartment 19 and through the inner wall 19", in both of which it is journalled in any suitable bearings. rlhe spur gear 22 is secured to the snal't i7 by the set screw i525 or the like.

As appears in Fig. 1, the outer train of main and interconnecting gears is arranged in continuous and positive mesh with the gear 25, for the right-hand set ol carding rolls, namely, the interconnecting gear 2S, then the main gear 29, then the interconnecting gear 30, then the main gear El etc.

It will be noted that Vthe main gear 2T is provided with a lesser mimber, say three, oi teeth of the same size than the main gear Q5 and the main. gear 2S) similarly with three less teeth ol" the same .size than the main gear 27 and the main gear 31 similarly has three less teeth o'l the same size than the main gear 29; the interconnecting gears 26, o8 and 30 have teeth of the same size as the main gears and are ot proper diameters to maintain positive mesh lrom one main gear to the next main gear.

In similar positive gearing, and similar gear ratio relation, I have arranged, see Fig. 1, an outer train of main and interconnecting gears for the lofi-hand set ol carding rolls, namely the main gear meshing with the interconnecting gear 33, in turn meshing with the main gear 341, connected by the intermediate gear with the main gear 36, in turn interconnected by the gear 37 with the main gear 238, such train of gears extending upwardly in a direction corresponding to the number and locations of their carding rolls disposed Within the hopper 5, as is indicated in Fig. Ll. In the last named train of gearing, the main gear 32 of the outer-left-hand train meshes 4directly and has the same number of teeth ofv has three less teeth than the main gear 34,

and the main gear 38 hasV three lessteeth' than the main gear-36. Y

The main gears 32, 34, 36 and 38 of the outer left-hand train may be duplicates rcspectively of the aforesaid main gears 25, 27, 29 and 31 of the outer right-hand train.

-As appears in Fig, the right-hand set of carding rolls are indicated 40, 41 and 42, and their uppermost dressing roll 43, and the lett-hand set of carding` rolls are indicated44, 45 and 46, and their dressing roll 47. As is also indicated in Fig. 3, the rolls 40, 41, 42 and 43 are'each driven in the same rotative direction, to Wit, in cloclrivise'di-` rection, and the rolls 44, 45, 46, 47 are rotated commonly in the opposite direction,

to Wit, in counterclockwise direction.`

The rolls 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 are connected respectively Withy their kdriving gears in a common manner and ac cordingly a detail description of the drive and connections of thelovvermost right-hand carding roll 40 will Asuilice to specifically describe the drive and connections oi' all the carding rolls.

As is indicated in Fig. 4, the carding roll 40is provided With the stud shaft 50mounted in a suitable bearing in the inner ivall 19'b of the compartment 19 ot the hopper 5, and extends across the compartment19 to a i suitable bearing in the outer Wall 19a of the compartment 19. Its main gear 25 of the aforesaid outer right-hand train of main gearsis loosely mounted on .the shaft 50 adjacentthe outer Wall 19.1 of the compartment 19.

As has been stated generally hereinabove,

for each set of carding rolls there is provided another or so-called inner .traint of main and interconnecting gears, arranged in side by side correspondence with the aforesaid outer train respectively and the respec tive main gears of such outer set rotates at a different speed than the corresponding main gear of the aforesaid inner set. i A clutch is provided for each carding roll for alternately connecting suoli roll either with its main gear of the outer train or with its main gear of the inner train. The clutch is operated by the operator for varying at Will the rotation and carding operation of the particular carding rolls.

The inner lett-handptrain of gears, eee Figs. 1a and 2, is driven from the Vaforesaid gear 22 throughy the main gear 51, of the right-hand inner train of gears and comprises the main gear 55, the intermediate tent 73 coacts with the lug 74 having kangular faces meeting at an edge.

gear 56 meshing with the main gear 57, in turn meshing With the intermediate gear 58, connecting with the main gear 59, connected by the intermediate gear (SO With the main gear 61. The main gear 57 has a lesser number of teeth of the same size and different from t n'ee say tivo, than the main gear si1nilarly,'the main gear 59 has tivo less teeth of the same size than the main gear 57 and the main gear 61 has two less teeth of the same size than the main gear 59.

As appears in F ig. 2, the main gear 32 ont the outer left-hand train oic gears Yfor the lowermost lett-hand carding roll 44 is provided on the inner tace with the set of clutch teeth 62 and the main gear 55 of the inner le`fthand train of gears 'for the lethand carding roll 44 is provided with Aa set of clutch teeth G4. The clutch collar 66 is keyed by the spline to the shalt of the carding roll 44 and the collar G6 has a righthandset oi' clutch teeth 67 and a left-hand set of clutch teeth G8, for meshing respectively either With the clutch teeth 52 of the main gear or with the clutch teeth 64 ot' the main gear As appears in Fig. 4, the clutch collar 6G of the carding roll 44 is shifted by means of its lever Y70, having the linl; 71, at the end of Which is the `knob 72 to afford convenient operation exteriorly of the hopper As is shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the clutch collar G6 has its teeth G7 in engagement With the clutch teeth 62 of the main gear B2 of the outer lett-hand gear train.

For the purpose of insuring the collar 6G to be either in mesh with the main gear 82 of the outer lefth'and gear .grain or withA the main gear 55V of the inner left-hand gear train, and also for the purpose of giving instantaneous change of uncoupling Jfrom one main gear to coupling ywith the other main gear, l equip the shift lever with the detent 73, see Fig. 5 in an enlarged view and also Figs. 4 and 1Which detent 73 is provided With angular faces meeting at an edge loca-ted to one side of the center ci the throw of the shift lever 70, and which deilar ne lug 74 is mounted on the spring strip 75 suspended from the bracket 76 secured at its end 77 to the inner Wall 19b of the compara ment 19. The clearance between t` e clutch faces and the gear Jraces is so shgnt that practically the moment that the clutch coila is uncoupled with one it iscoupied Wi its other gear and thereby the continued rotation of the carri'ng roil is insured during the stage ci2 changing its speed.

in practice, l arrange the clutch collar to be constantly' engaged during the period of transfer from one gear to the opposite gear, that is to say, there is no clearance between the collar and the opposite gears when being clutch faces.

The slnlt lever '.10 nnfy be pivot-ed at to tee brac :et 4o. Thus, upon tue opcator grasping the knob T2, to push inwardly or pull outwardly the link T1, the itfh 00 will be the outer the inner a similar 'ne remainsnapped from ci main gear 32 to mein gear 55,3, or manner, the clutches ing curding rolls ol tl those oi' the right-hund instr ntaneous itting relaii n w i the right-hand set of in Fig. 1L and compr connected by the intcrin the main gear 70, in tui i e intermediate gear 0 with t The main gear 81 is connect/c mediate gear 82 Vith the gear ating the hfcssing roll i3. 'i 79 is of lesser numher ot tec'l size than the main gear ci il? au.

gear 81 is of lesser numbe;x or f seine size as the n sin gear 70, similar to tie if'ariation oi gearing ratios of the inner leichand train oi: gearing elen'ients 5T and 5S), atcressid.

By means t f lei inner trains ot gearing i ir th il, Li0, l1. and ft2l upon coupling f :my rolls with its ninin geur i .such roll is operatenA at a rc l' .speed` Whereas :my roll when i '.t. individuel coupling with :i mein i ot the inner train of grs-:irs is operate... relatively' lower speed. Similarly, in respect to the left-hand set ot carding rolls fi-"f, 15, lf3 and 45T, upon coupling any roll with its malin gear of the outer train ot gears is operated at relatively higher speed and upon coupling any roll with oi tl inner train ot gears is opera. lower speed.

It will be understood that speeds of the main gears of inner trains of gearing may desired.

The stripping spective carding the particular the outer nd be selected is rolls of the aforesaid rerolls are operated at any desired uniform speed and by positively actuated gearing;l elements. As an example of a driving mechanism for the stripping roll, the gear 90, see 1,` secured to the shaft 13 driven by the sprocket chain 11 and sprocket wheel 12, as aforesaid. The gear 9G meshes with the gez.' 97 keyed on the shaft 08, mounted in the spaced been" ings 00, 100 and driving ut its opposite ends the mitre gears 101, and 102, secured thereto. The mitre gear 102 meshes with the mitre gear 1046*, secured to the shaft of the lower-most right-hand stripping roll 104, see Fig. S, cooperating with the carding roll 40 and rotating in direction counter to the direction of rotation of the :arding roll 40. The mitre gear 10ia meshes with the mitre gear 103 secured to the upwardly extending` counter-shaft 105. On the counter shaft 105 is secured the mitre gear 100, meshing with the mitre gear 10T secured to the shutt olf the siripiiing roll 10S, see Fig. 1, coacting with and rotating' opposite to the direction ot rotmion oi the carding roll 11. Similarly, the mitre gear 109, secured to the shaft 105, mesh-.s with thermitre gear 110 on the sha'it ott the stripping roll 111 of the ca ding roll 412.

As appears in Fig. 1, the ccunterslmtt 105 is utilized to drive the brush 115 ot the upgermost, right-hand dressing roll 112%, as by means or the mitre gear 110, secured to the counter-shaft 105, and meshing with the mitre 117, secured at one end to the short shaft 118 having at its other end the mitre gear 119 meshing with the mitre gear 120 fixed to the shaft of the brush 115.

The stripping rolls 112, 113 and 114 of the left-hand set or" earding rolls 41, 4:5 and #10, respectively are geared positively to the left-hand counter-shaftl 121 in a similar manner; the counter-shaft 121 is driven by its mitre gear 122, n'ieshing twith the mitre gear 101, on the shaft 98. The direction of rotation of the stripping rolls 112, 113 and 114i is opposite to that o1" the respective. carding rolls 414, 45 and 10 with which they rcspec-tively coact. The uppermost dressing roll 17 is provided with the brush 11.5, operating and driven similarly as the brush 1153, but in the opposite direction as indifated.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the right-hand set of cai-ding rolls 40, 11, 412, $3 are rotated in loclxvise direction whereas the letthand setk o'j carding rolls 45, L10, 17 are rotated in counter-clockwise direction.

The uppermost right-hand roll e123 and the uppermost left-hand roll Al-'T are dressing rolls and in the carding operation et the carding rolls, the speed of the dressing rolls need not be varied when varying the speed of the carding rolls or" their respective sets; however, I have shown main gears embodied in the respective inner and outer t ains ot the serially connecte( gearing elements respectively for the dressing roll 18 of the right-hand set and the dressing roll i7 of the left-hand set whereby the speeds of the dressing rolls 43, L17 may be varied ii desired.

pins and carded by inutual coaction between pairs of adjacent carding rolls and stripped by 'the respective stripping rolls.

For the purpose of attaining uniformity of distribution of the carded tobacco, l arrange between such car-ding roll and the delivery of the hopper a partition for directing the tobacco carded by such carding roll and its cooperating stripping roll in definite relation yto the total discharge of tobacco froin he hopper. Thus, as is indicated in Fig, 3, the partition 125 1s arranged closely adjacent the stripping roll 104 to direct the tobacco carded by the cai-ding roll 40 and its stripping roll 104 definitely toward the delivery outlet 6 of the hopper.l The partition 126 in a similar manner limits the direction of travel of the tobacco caided by the carding roll 41in coaction With its stripping roll 10S toivard'the delivery outlet of the hopper.

The partition 127 in a similar manner directs the distribution of the tobacco carded by the carding roll 42 and its .stripping roll Vv111 towardthe delivery outlet of the hopper.

1n a similar manner, the partitions 128,V

129 andr 13()y are arranged to direct the respective streams ofv carded tobacco from theileft-hand carding rolls 44, 45, 46, respectively toward 'the delivery outlet 6 of Y the hopper 5.

As shoiv'nin Fig. 1, tne set of right-hand carding rolls 40, 41,` 42 and the left-hand set of carding rolls 44, 45, 46 are indicated in outline by dash lines. By reason of the respective clockwise and countercloclr- Wise rotations of the right-hand and lefthand set of carding rolls respectively the tobacco is continuously agitated; the portion of the chaige adjacent. the right-hand set of carding rolls is subjected to agitating forces directed generally parallel to the plano common to the axes of the shafts of the right-hand rolls whereas the portion of the tobacco charge adiacent the left-hand set of carding rolls is subjected to agitating forces directed generally parallel to the plane cominon to the axesof the shafts of the-left-hand rolls, Waereby in the event of any heaping of the tobacco charge vertically in t-,ie central region of the hopper, such portions of the tobacco Will fall, and are brought into engagement Wit-h the respective lowermost carding rolls 40, 44 andA again subjected to the divergent forces of agitation, respectively extending upwardly to- .Wards the righty and left, and the agitation repeated or continued. f

Usually such agitation prevents any bridging and air pockets action of the tobacco but in the event of any such action taking place, as with certain grades of tobacco, I provide, as is indicated in Fig. 3, the distributor comprising a set of lingers 131 secured to and suspended from the com- -inon rod 132, the shaft of which extending limited by the fingers 131 striking the felted niass to break up anddistribute the saine Within the portions of the charge. subjected directly to agitation by the right-hand and left-hand sets of carding rolls as aforesaid.

As indicated hereinabove, the tobacco is preferably charged into the hopper 5 by automatic means. I have shown one preferred form of automatic chargingv means comprising, see Fig. 8,thc bin 140 having a contracting bottom 141 and having a curved extension 141a through which passes fthe opposite endless conveyer chains and in tei-mediate canvas belt 142 having longitud-v inally spaced plates having teeth or prongs 143, extending at right angles to the direction of length of thev conveyer 142. A set of sprocket gears 144 is suitably located near the bottoni 141 of the bin 14() as in the recess 145 in the bottom 141, to project the sprocket gears 144 within the bottoni 141 of the bin 140. rlhe upwardly travelling lead of the conveyer 142 passes through the bin 140 in the direction of the arrow 146 and its pickers 143 gather tobacco and Jarry the saine upwardly to a region above and toward one side of the hopper 5, at which the chain 142 passes over the set of sprocket Wheels 147, suitably mounted on a brac-het supported at the top of the hopper 5. Vthe set of sprocket gears or idlers 14S, respectively support and guilethe con-v veyer chain 142 at the edge of the hopper 5.

Suit-ably mounted on its shaft in oppositely disposed braclrets, supported at the top of the hopper 5, is the piclr i'oll v150 having substantially radially extending picker pins, andcoacting with the set of spring fingers 151a for shredding or ginning the tobaco as it is delivered at the uppermost travel of the conveyer chain 142. The pick roll 150 is rotated clockwise to deliver trie ginned tobacco to the Winnovver 151 Whose shaft is suitably Journaled 1n oppositely disposed bearing braehets (not shown) carried by the hopper 5.

The picker and the winnower may be rotated by the eonveyer as by securing a gear (see Fig. 81") to the shaft oi the set oi' sprocket wheels 117, and meshing with the gear 159, secured tothe sha'tt of the picker 159; the gear 153 meshes with the smaller gear 15e; secured to the shaft of the winnower 151, to rotate the winnower 151 at a relatively high speed.

The Winnower 151 is rotated in any suitable manner in countereloelnvise direction and at a high speed. to distribute 'the shredded tobacco substantially uniformly over the upper region of the hopper 5. it such speed oi" rotation of the ivinnower 151, any stems, wood, stones, nails or the lille will be hurled beyond the ende-*all 156 of the hopper 5 and therefore outside of the hopper and may be caught in any suitable receptacle 157 if desired. Also, in the event that any nail, stone and the like be present in the tobacco charged by the conveyer 1112 into the. iviimoiver 151, the momentijmi ol such relatively heavy portion. will cause the saine to be hurled esteri orly ol the hopper 5. Such elimination et heavy and foreign material in advance of the earding orf the tobacco prevents damage to 'the earding mechanism and its illeting, prevents brealring et the cigarette paper, brealaffe of the tube belt, drilling and injury to the cutter knife and also improves the quality oi the formed cigarettes.

The control rod 159 (Fig. 10) projects through suitable recess in the walls 19, 19h of the compartment 19 of 'the hopper 5 and coacts with a. suitable control device whereby under the cond on ot the 'tobacco charge within the hopper ,ta-lling below the preileterniined level 158 and the plate "7" JU extending to or toward the direction indicated by the dotted outline 1662L (showing the ad fanced movement oi` the iilate 156), such control device autrnnatically starts the actuating mechanism of the conveyor 112; and upon the tobacco extendino el'lctively above the predetermined level 1:9, the plate 156 is forced by the increased weight et the tobacco from its position indicated in di'itted outline at 156"L towa d its position 156 indicated in full outline, and thereby project the control rod 1:39 to the r vit as rinved in Fig. 16, and autolnatically slop the actuating mechanism ot the 11s one Yform ol control l have illus# ated in 9. 10, the bar 161 secured centrally at the outer end 165 of the control rod 1559 and provided the depending pavvls 166, 167 extending within the U-shaped portion 168 et the reeiprocated rod 169.

The reciprocating rod 169 is mounted, saj' horizontally, in the spaced sleeves 170, 17

conveyor isle.

vdetector bar 159 is at its outer position,

and provided fith the cam roller 172 coacting with the cam 172-3 secured to the top dressing roller shaft 17 -1 rotated in any suitable manner from the main shaft 3, or otherwise as may be preferred. The reciprocating rod 169 may be provided with the fork 175 extending about the end of the shaft 171. The retraetile spring ,176 serves to hold the roller 179 inv contact with the cam 17 3, and functions to return the rod 169 on its return reciprocations.

Coaeting with the aiiioresaid elements, is the lever 17S, pivoted at 1761, and control ling, as more particularly described hereinafter, the clutch for coupling the actuating elements oi the conveyor 142 with the power shaft 3 or any suitable drive arrangement operated by the power shaft 3, whereby under the condition of the detector rod 1.5i being moved to or adjacent its iiinermost position, the lever 17S is moved to clutchclosing position and when the detector rod 159 is moved to or adjacent its outermost position, the clutch lever 178 is moved to clutch-opening position.

The pawl 167 mounted on the bar 16.1, of the detector rod 159, to be located within the U-portion 168 of the reeiprocatory rod 169. The pawl 166 is mounted on an arm 177 to project the pawl 166 from the bar 161 to a greater extent than the paivl 167, as appears in Fig. 11. Ceacting therewith is the clutch lever 178 oi: the actuating mechanism oi2 the conveyer 1712, by means oi the olli-set portion 179 and the upwardly extending portion 180, projecting Within the U-portion 168 of the reciprocatory bar 169. Then the the pawl 167 is located witu in the U-poroion 165% vin the position indicated in Figs. l() and 1l,

and upon reeiprecation ot the bar 169 the pawl 167 encounters the end portion 169 ol the clutch lever 178, whereby the clutch lever 176 is held in uneoupling position. ln such circumstance, the pawl 166 is positioned within the U-shaped portion 168 ol the reciprocatory bar 169 but in non-operative relation with the extension ol5 the clutch lever 178. lVhen the detector plate 156 is at its inner position, the pawl 167 is moved inwardly while still within the U-shaped portion 168 but out of operative relation with the extension 169 and the pawl 166 is moved inwardly and into operative relation with the extension 1S() to throw and maintain the clutch lever 176 in clutch-closing position, upon continued reeiprocation oi' the bar 169. The extreme left-hand position oi: the clutch lever 178 is sho vn in Fig. 10 and it will be noted that the extent oiY reciprocation of the bar 169 corresponds 'to proper displacements of the pawls 166 and 167 respectively as above noted.

ihe spring' 161 is provided for the pawl 166 to tend to resiliently hold the pawl 166 gear 185. on the shaft 186, and the shaft 186 is jour.-

nwe/rre.

rof the plate 156 and thus interfering with `the plate 156 in its return or outward movement when the charge in the hopper is increased. l v

Such clutch lever 17 8 is arranged in any suitable manner with any suitable actuating mechanism for the conveyor 142, as by providing the laterally operating clutch comirising (see Figs. 9 and 10) the clutch ele-V ments 18d, 184:3, the latter secured to the The gear 185 1s loosely mounted naled in the spaced bearings 187, 187. The clutch element 18% is connected to the spline 188l fixedon the shaft 186. The gear 185 meshes with the driving gear 189 fixed on the shaft 18,'see also Fig. 1. On the shaft 186 is also positioned the setA of sprocket gears 190, seeV Figs. A8 and 9, meshing respectively with the right-hand and left-hand lupper and lower leads of the charging conveyer chain 142., The rollers`191, see` Fig.` 8,l are provided to guide the respective righthand and left-hand upper leads of the chain 142 in operative relationwith the driving sprocket gears 190, 190. Y

Accordingly, upon the `clutch lever 17 8 being moved to uncoupling position, as is indicated in Figs. 9, 10, the gear 189 rotates the gear 185 idly but upon the clutch lever 178 being moved to coupling position, the clutch element 18e is brought into operative engagement with the clutch element 1849, whereby the shaft 186 is actuated, thereby rotating the drivingsproclret gears 190, 190 ofthe conveyor chain 142 to aetuate the conveyor 1112 as hereinabove described.

Freni the above, it will be observed that the carding mechanism of the hopper is continuously operated and continuously feeds the tobacco from the hopper to the cigarette forming mechanism. The charge of the tobacco within the hopper is reduced in quantity, and therewith lowering the level ofL the tobacco charge in the hopper, below the predetermined level 158, the detector plate 156 rises under action of its spring 161 actuating the detector rod 159, thus bringing the pawl 166 into position, whereby upon reciprocation of the rod 169 toefiect the shifting of the clutch lever 178 and thereby coupling the clutch member 18e with the clutch member 184, whereupon the tobacco feeding conveyer 142 is set into actuation. The feeding of tobacco into the hopper by the `conveyor 142 continues until the level of the charge of tobacco within the hopper attains substantially the predetermined level 158, at which stage the detector plate 156 is receded, asl above described, causing its detector rod 159 to be pushed outwardly relatively to the hopper to bring the pawl 16T into operative` relation with the lever 178 and shift the same' to uncouple the clutch member 18e-a, and again bring the conveyor 142 to rest, whereby the mechanism for feeding the tobacco into the hopper serves to maintain the quantity of the tobacco within the hopper substantially constant and the level of the tobacco maintained substantially uniform. 1t will also appear that the mechanism controlled by the tobacco level in the hopper follows the variation of and is controlled by the tobacco level in the hopper. y

1n the form of my invention as illustrated in the drawings, it will be observed that the movable plate 156 is located at one side of .,l.;

the tobacco receiving hopper, the remaining sides being fixed, and accordingly'the movement of the plate 156 is in response to varying weights and varying volumes of the tobacco charge and thus responsive to the weight and volume of the tobacco charge,`

the variation of the pressure of the tobacco charge upon the movable plate being erlercised laterally at the side at which the movable plate 156 contacts with the charge.

The bin 140, the charging conveyor 111-2 and the top of the hopper 5 are enclosed by a removable cover 192, see Fig. 8, for the purpose of reducing the loss of moisture, or of the volatile'oils or other fluids of the tobacco, and protecting the tobacco from dust or other foreign substances and like purposes. k

As will be noted in Fig. 9, the shaft 182` of the oscillating, agitating arms 181 (seo Fig. 8) may be operated by the reciprocatory rod 169, as by the provision of the finger 188 secured to the outer end of the shaft 132 and located in the path of reciprooation of the rod 169 to provide for the coi/inter-cloclrwise throw and the retractile spring 189 to return the finger 188 and provide for the clockwise extent of oscillation of the arms 181.

ln the modification shown in Figs. 6 and l7, the carding mechanism comprises the left-hand set of carding rolls and designated respectively 200, 201, 202 and 203,' each being rotated in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7. The carding mechanism comprises further three carding rolls designated respectively 204, 205 and 206, whereas the uppermost right-hand roll 207 functions as a dressing roll. The carding rolls 204, 205 and 206, and likewise the dressing lll) roll 20T are rotated in the sain-e rotational direc on as the aforesaid l,f'h:ind set ot carding rolls 200-202, namely, in clockwise direction as viewed in 7.

The Wiper tor the dressing roll (licated at 20S which may be rota clockwise direction by any suitable gearing mechanism.

The stripping roll ttor the ea-rding roll 200 is indicated at 210, which is rotated in countcrclociin'ise rotation by gearing arrange ment similarly as above; similarly the stripping roll 211 of the carding roll 201, also the stripping roil of the carding roll 202 and the stripping roll 213 ot the carding roll 208. The stripping roll 2M ot the carding roll 20siis similarly rotated in counter-clockwise direction, siniilarly, the stripping roll 21,5 of the earding roll and the stripping roll 210 of the carding roll 206, the same being driven by positively actuated gearing elements from the main drive shaft 3.

Such arrangement provides for seven f streams of carded tobacco by the use ot seven carding rolls aid a single dressing roll, which arrangement attains an increased number of carded streams as compared with the arrangement shown in Fig. l.

Preferably, the streams of carded tobacco are controlled in distribution the discharge of the hopper similarly as hereinabove, namely by partitions 217, 21S, 219, 220 for the four carding rolls ot the lefthand set, the partition 2,21 for directing th stream carded by the mutual carding action of the lowerinost carding rolls 203, 201; and similarly, the partitions 222, 223 and 224 for the carding rolls 2041-, 205 and 206 of the right-hand set.

The streams of carded tobacco may be dclivered into the restricted discharge G ot the hopper similarly as set forth in the hereinabove described ai"angement, or may be delivered upon an apron 230, and then discharged into the chute 231 having the restricted slot corresponding to the hereinabove described restricted discharge slot 7. l'y means oi the plurality of' carded streams ot tobacco and means Yfor coiitrolliug the rate ot i'eed oi' the respective streams o't carded tobacco upon the travelling apron 234, any irregularities in the individual streams of carded tobacco are overcome and the apron functions there to deliver to the cigarette paper a substantially constant amount ot carded tobacco for any given average speed of the indivieual cai-ding rolls.

r1`he gearing arrangement for driving the left-hand and right-handsets of carding rolls corresponds generally to that described hereinabove and may comprise as is specifically set in hereinabove an outer set of serially connected gearing elements and an inner set of serially connected gearing elements; an additional intermediate gear is provided for obtaining the common rotation of all the carding rolls as obtains in this coostr ction Whereas in the arrangement in Figs. 1 and 3, the two sets of carding rolls rotate in opposite directions.

Thus, as indicated in Fig. 6, the hereinabove described gear 20 meshes with the main gear 24:0 oit the outerV train and in operative adjacency with the shaft of the carding roll 2011. The intermediate gear 2l1 connects the gear 240 with the succeeding gear 242 of lesser gearing ratio; the main gear 2M of still lesser gearing ratio is connected With the main gear 242 by the intermediate gear 24.3 and the intermediate gear 245 connects the main gear 2li with the main gear 246 of lesser gearing ratio.

The additional intermediate gear is indicated at 247 and connects the main gear 210 With the mean gear 24:8, which in turn is connected by the intermediate gear 249 With'the main gear 250, in turn connected by the intermediate gear 251 with the main gear 252 and in turn connected by the intermediate gear with the main gear 254. The main gear 248, of the outer train of gearing, is in operative adjaeency with the shaft of the car-ding roll 203. The main gear 250, of lesser ratio than the main gear 2118, is in operative adjaceney With the shaft ot the carding roll 202. The main gear 252 and the main gear 25d are of graduated lesser gearing ratios and are provided respectively for the carding rolls 201 and 200.

Tithin the hopper 5, I provide the mechanical distributor 260 rotating to feed tobacco toward the uppermost cai-ding roll 200. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the direction of rotation ot the distributor 200 is in clockwise direction, to teed the tobacco toward the uppermost carding roll 200. rl`he distributor 260 comprises a plurality of spaced vanes mounted on the sl aft 261, journalled in the opposite walls of the hopper and driven by the gear 262, about which passes the chain 263 meshing with the driving gear 264 secured to the gear 240, ot the outer right-hand train oi' gears of the carding mechanism.

By reason ol: the common rotative direction ot' the tops o'l" the carding rolls 200 207, the whole charge ot tobacco is subjected to a continued rotative agitation, thereby precluding the formation o1" any bridges. Such agitation tends to accuinulate the tobacco in the region adjacent the carding roll 206 and a distributor 260 serves to rake the upper layers of such accumulation back and over the lower-most agi tated layer in the opposite direction in return to the rolls 200, 201. Such raking action can be enhanced by an additional rake 260 arranged in series.

In Fig. 12 I have illustrated another form` of car'ding mechanism ycomprising a series of mutually coacting carding rolls arranged, to be inclined upwardly in one direction.y In this arrangement, the lowermost carding` roll 270 positioned below aty onev side,

.say to the left, of the hopper 271; yits rad-v 270 to 275 are rotated in clockwise directionv respectively by suitable gearing, such as is set forth amore particularly` hereinabove in reference to other modifications of this invention. Specifically I have shown in Fig. 12, av train of positively geared gearing elements comprising `the gear 278, suitably driven from the drive yof the hopper, say

from the shaft 17, see Fig. 2; the gear 278 i meshes with the gear 279 serving as the gear .of the carding roll 270 of its inwardly disposed set ofthe alternate sets of gear trains and adapted to be connected with the shaft of the cai-ding roll 270 by means of a clutch arrangement, such as specilically described hereinabove. The gear 278 meshes.

alsowith the gear 280 of the inward set and disposed in relative adjacency to the shaft of the carding roll 272. The intermediate gear 281 connects the main gear 280 with the next main gear `282 for the caidingfroll4 278; the intermediate gear 283 connectsv the main gear 282 with the next niain gear 284i and the intermediate gear 285 connect the main gear 284 with the next main gear 286.

y the driving gear 278, by providing` ing roll 27() and meshing with the gear 287,

the gear 288 secured to the lower driving shaft of the belt 276. The upper shaft of the belt 27 6 is shown at 289.

f It will be noted that the speed ofrotation of the carding roll 272 is materially greater than the speed of rotation of its adjacent coacting carding roll 27 8, provided for by the increased diameters of the main gear 282, relative to the main gear 280; similarly, the speed of rotation of the cardiiig roll 273 is greater as compared with the speed of rotation of its succeeding and mutually coacting carding roll 274 and similarly relative to the mutually coacting carding rolls 274, 27 5. By such arrangement, a wedging action of the tobacco is effected between each pair of mutually coacting carding rolls, thereby insuring uniformity of depth of tothe card-l bacco within the. illeting of the cai'ding rolls and uniformity of felting of carded tobacco by thecarding rolls.

` The belt 276 `serves toprevent the varching of the tobacco above the carding rolls.

has been set forth hereinabove.

rIhe modification shown in Fig. 13 corresponds generally to that shown in Fig. 12 in respect to the carding rolls and the train of driving gears, and like elements are designated by the saine reference numbers. However, in Fig. 13 I have shown another form of movable wall in the form ofthe board 290, extending from one side of the hopper to the opposite side, and mounted oppositely at 291y at its bottom vinclose adjacency to the lowermost cardingv roll 270..'

Toward the upper end ofthe rwall 290, I connect the link 292, the opposite end 293 of which is connected to the crank wheel 294.' rotated from the drive of the hopper in any suitable 'mannen Such form of agitator 290 may be employed in the arrangement shown in Fig. 3,.

located at the center of the hopper 5,'in lieu of agitator 181, serving as a dividing roll and enables two kinds or two conditions of tobacco, one on each side of the wall 290 to be fed into the vhopper and the mixture or blending of thetwo tobaccos effected in the carded streams and resulting cigarettes.v

Another preferred form of agitating the tobacco 4charge within the `hopper 5 is by means of a large number of vertically extending fingers distributed within the hopper and extending into the mass of tobacco and tappers to vibrate the lingers at a relatively high frequency, whereby substantially the entire charge of tobacco in the hopper is Vibratedat such high frequency,

and causes the tobacco to settle, whereby the formation of air pockets withinthe tobacl co charge is precluded and the tobacco is caused to be in continuous eflectiveengagement with the illeting of the carding rolls. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, and similarly in Figs. f6 and 7, the wedging action is more pronounced upon increasing the speed of the roll rotatinginwardly of the wedge relative to the speed of the coacting rolls; thus, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, upon rotating the cardingroll 410, say twice the speed of its coacting roll 41, a wedge of the portion of the tobacco charged adjacent these rolls is formed. Such wedging action insures the filling and packing of the tobacco into the lilleting of the carding roll rotating inwardly of such wedge, such as the carding roll 40 in Fig. 3, thereby maintaining uniform depths and weight of the tobacco at all times within the filleting and thus deriving improved card?. ing action. l

. y7i) Any preferred `torni of brush 11o may be associated with the uppermost roll 275, as

The carded tobacco as delivered from the hopper pursuant to the discl sure made hereinabove, is delivered to the cigarette paper and the cigarette rod is formed by the rod forming mechanism, including the feeding of the cigarette paper thereto, are driven by positively geared elements driven from the main shaft 3 or any positively driven shaft of the machine.

In Fig. ll, I have illustrated in a diagrammatic form the usual, large drive pulley 300 about which the tube belt 301 passes. The shaft 302 of the pulley is positively driven from the main shaft 3 of the cigarette machine at a predetermined speed. The belt 301 is usually regulated in tension by the spring-pressed idler 303, and is guided in its path adjacent the delivery opening 7 of the hopper by the guide pulley 304, whereafter the belt passes horizontally to the former or forming shoe 505, whereby the belt 301, the cigarette paper 300 and the cigarette tobacco indicated at T is rolled in the formation of the resulting cigarette rod B08. r he cigarette rod 800 may be severed into individual cigarettes inthe usual manner. The delivery of the 'arded cigarette tobacco from the hopper :3 upon the length of cigarette paper 30G is indicated at 309.

Preferably, the delivery portion 6, as is indicated in Fig. 2, is subjected to agitation by any approved type of agitator, such as the arm 270, or set of such arms coacting with the cushion 271 secured to one side of the discharge box 6, and operated in its striling throw by its retractile spring 272 .vhieh is compressed upon outward movement of the rod 270 by means of the lever 273" tripped by the cam 274 on the shaft 13.

lVhereas, I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will bc understood that many cl'ianges and modifications may bc made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a cigarette making machine, a hopper, endless conveyor mea for feeding tobacco into said hopper, continumisly moving means for supplying poiver for actuating said endless conveyor means, .said continuously moving` means including a shaft, means disposed in said hopper 'esponsive to the volume of the tobacco charge therein, said volume responsive means being substantially continuously in contact with thc tobacco charge, a gear adapted to be driven by said shaft and for actuating said endless conveyor means and means controlled by said volume responsive means and controlling the operative connection between said shaft and said gear.

2. In a cigarette making machine, a hopper, endless conveyor means for feeding tobacco into said hopper, continuously movstantially continuously in contact with the` tobacco charge, a gear adapted to be driven by said shaft and for actuating said endless conveyor means, a clutch carried by said shaft for connecting and disconnecting said shaft relative to said gear and means controlled by said volume responsive means for moving said clutch to its closed and open positions respectively.

3. In a cigarette making machine, a hopper, endless conveyor means for feeding tobacco into said hopper, continuously moving means for supplying power for actuating said endless conveyor means, said continuously moving means including a shaft, means disposed in said hopper responsive to the volume of the tobacco charge therein, said volume responsive means being substantially continuously in contact with the tobacco charge, a gear adapted to be driven by said shaft and for actuating said endlessv conveyor means, a clutch carried by said shaft for connecting and disconnecting said shaft relative to said gear and means actuated by continuously moving means and controlled by said volume responsive means for moving said clutch to its closed and open positions respectively.

4. In a cigarette making machine, a hop per, endless conveyor means for feeding tobacco into said hopper, continuously moving means for supplying power for actuating said endless conveyor means, said continuously moving means including a shaft, means disposed in said hopper responsive to the volume of the tobacco charge therein, said volume responsive means being substantially continuously in contact with the tobacco charge, a goal.' adapted to be driven by said shaft and for actuating said endless c ,\nveyor means, a clutch carried by said shaft for connecting and disconnecting said shaft relative to said gear and means reciprocal'ed by continuously moving means and coul rolled by said volume responsive means for moving said clutch to its closed and open positions respectively.

In a cigarette making machine` a hopper, endless conveyor means for feeding tobacco into said hopper, contimiously moving means for supplying power for actuating said said endless conveyor means, said continucusly moving means including a shaft, means disposed in said hopper responsive to the volume of the tobacco charge therein and further disposed laterally of and continuously in contact with the tobacco charge, a gear adapted to be driven by said shaft and for actuating said endless conveyor means and means controlled by said volume responsive means and controlling the operative connection between said shaft and said gear.

6. In a cigarette making machine, a hopper, endless conveyor meansfor feeding tobacco into said hopper, continuously moving means for supplying power for actuating said endless conveyor means, said continuously moving means including a shaft, means disposed in said hopper'responsive to the volume of the tobacco charge therein and further 'disposed laterally of and in continuous contact with the tobacco charge, a gear adapted to be driven by said shaft and for actuating said endless conveyorl means, a clutch carried by said shaft for connecting and disconnecting said shaft relative to said gear and means controlled by said volume responsive means for moving said clutch to its closed and open positions respectively.

7. In a cigarette making machine, a hopper, endless conveyor means for feeding tobacco into said hopper, continuously moving means for supplying power for actuating said endless conveyor means, said continuously moving means including a shaft, means disposed in said hopper responsive to the volume of the tobacco charge therein and further disposed laterally of and in continuous contact with the tobacco charge, a gear adapted to be driven by said shaft and for .actuating said endless conveyor means, a

clutch carried by said shaft for connecting and disconnecting said shaft relative to said gear and means actuated by continuously moving means and controlled by said volume responsive means for moving said clutch to its closed and open positions respectively.

8. In a cigarette making machine, a hopper, endless conveyor means for feeding tobacco into said hopper, continuously moving means for supplying power for actuating .said endless conveyor means, said continuously moving means including a shaft, means disposed in said hopper responsive to the volume of the tobacco charge therein and further disposed laterally of and in continuous contact with the tobacco charge, a gear adapted to be driven by said shaft and for actuating said endless conveyor means, a clutch carried by said shaft for connecting and disconnecting said shaft relative to said gear and means reciprocated by continuously moving means and controlled by said volume responsive means for moving said clutch to its closed and open positions respectively.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification this 14th day of April, 1922.

f WILLIAM F. GRUPE. 

